The Musings of Colleen & Tim Dearborn - Tim - Biking

A Lesson in Stupidity or Humbleness (Not Sure Which Yet)

nospam@example.com (Tim Dearborn) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 09:59:05 -0600

Note to self... unlock handlebars before riding motorcycle.

My motorcycle has a security feature of being able to lock the handlebars in a slightly turned position. This is designed to be used when parked (not riding). It seems that I forgot that yesterday. The result -- I went about 4 feet and dumped my bike in the middle of our driveway. The engine guard / highway bars on my bike (see pervious story) worked great, and neither my bike nor my underside leg were scratched. However, my top-side foot did not fare so well. I'm not sure how, but I sprained it well enough that I can't put weight on it. I have a doctor's visit this afternoon and will have to use crutches for the first time in my life.

P.S. If anyone cares, this is not the first time something like this has happened. When first starting to use cleats on my bicycle, I fell over once or twice when I forgot to unclip.

Motorcycle Highway Bars

nospam@example.com (Tim Dearborn) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:26:07 -0600

I also ordered highway bars from Vicente, a member of an online Kawasaki Vulcan forum. These bars are custom made in a shop in Mexico. Then Vicente checks them for correct fit, has them chromed, and then ships them from his home in Texas. I received the bars in a well-packed box. As Vicente described, the bars were very sturdy and the chrome was high-quality. The included directions for installing the bars were great, including numerous photos.

When I installed the top black steel plate which the bars attached to, the holes in the plate were about 1/8" too far apart to match the screw holes on my frame. I had to elongate the holes on the black steel plate with a drill press. (Vicente tests them for fit before shipping, so we are not sure why my bike was off a little.) I also added a few extra washers to each end of the u-clamps. Other than that, the installation was straightforward.

I am very happy with the highway bars and tell anyone that cares about my custom-made bars that spanned 2 countries in being made. I would recommend them to anyone with a Vulcan 500 who wants bars.

Bicycling Alive and Well in 2009

nospam@example.com (Tim Dearborn) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 18:00:00 -0700

Despite getting my first bike with a motor, regularly bicycling is still alive and well. I rode 2,507 miles in 2009. For the first time in my life, over 50% of those miles - 1,306 of them - were ridden inside.

Grand total for the last 26 years? 38,698 miles. Click on the image on the left for all the breakdown. Only 200,000 miles left to cover the distance from the earth to the moon.

Beautiful Halloween Covered Bridge Ride

nospam@example.com (Tim Dearborn) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:22:03 -0700

On a chilly Halloween morning, I rode with my brother-in-law, Eric, to central Indiana. The day started before sunrise with a light rain and 10-15 mph winds. It gradually warmed up and the sun came out (though I discovered that traveling at 60+mph for an hour in 40 degree weather can be quite chilly). Our destination was Rockville, IN and Parke County, the Covered Bridge Capital of the World. Once there, we toke the "red" covered bridge route, enjoying several covered bridges, low-traveled back roads, a little bit of gravel, and some beautiful scenery. We stopped at Bridgeton, home a double-span covered bridge, where we enjoyed some hot chili at the Mill and I had hot cherry cobbled topped off with some very orange pumpkin ice-cream. Then, after a primer in ninety-degree turns on 1 1/2 lane blacktops, we headed home to finish my first road trip of 380 miles.

First Bike With a Motor

nospam@example.com (Tim Dearborn) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:10:10 -0600

I have bicycled 38,000 miles, crossed mountains ranges, major cities, and peddled over 1,000 miles on 3 aluminum cylinders inside. I always thought that having a motor on a bike was cheating. But after driving a truck that gets 19 mph on good days, and after realizing that most of my day was spent either inside a building or inside a vehicle, a motor on a bike for the purpose of commuting started to peak my interest. We have some beautiful forest preserves that I can drive through if I desire on my way to work.

So, after taking a very helpful motorcycle class, getting my license, and persuading my wonderful but very concerned wife, I bought my first bike with a motor: a 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 500. It had less than 3000 miles on it, and was purchased for less than $3000. As a bonus, the previous owner drove it to my house. (My skill level isn't such yet that I was willing to drive it from the north side of Chicago back down to the southern edge of the city.) Now, I wonder if our Golden Retriever can fit in one of the saddle bags.......?

Bike Path Flood - Got a Paddle?

nospam@example.com (Tim Dearborn) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 23:00:44 -0600

Temperatures in the 50's and clear, sunny skies made for a great opportunity go for a bike ride in a nearby forest preserve for the first time of the season. At one point, I cycled within 3 feet of a deer standing next to the path, unfazed by me or the mechanical contraption I rode. The length of the return trip increased by a few miles, as I had to detour around a section of trail that was well under water. Next time I'll pack a paddle. Total trip - 30 miles; total for year - 641.

2,769 miles in 2008

nospam@example.com (Tim Dearborn) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 19:50:35 -0700

I love numbers, charts, stats, and such. I also love bicycling. When those two loves collide, you end up with a mega-spreadsheet of bicycle stats, going back for 25 years. So here are a few totals...

In 2008 I rode 2,769 miles. 952 of these miles, or 34% were ridden inside on bicycle rollers. This was the first year in my life that I have ridden at least 100 miles every month. Grand total for the last 25 years? 36,191 miles.

2008 Hilly Hundred

nospam@example.com (Tim Dearborn) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:57:00 -0600

I am at the Hilly Hundred ride again, traditionally the last ride of the season. This is the 5th time for me, but the first with a camper. With nights dipping down into the 30's, being off the ground and having a furnace to use if necessary sure is nice. Alright, I'll just say it -- I'm getting old, but creaturely comforts sure are nice.

I drove down to Ellettsville early enough today to stop at a state forest for a bike ride on the way. Morgan Monroe State Forest has beautiful one and a half lane roads that meander up, down, and around through heavily forested areas of the park. With the trees turning colors, it was beautiful. An added bonus: I was able to climb one of my favorite hills that we will do on the Hilly route on Sunday: Bean Blossom. This one is 2 miles and has a 17% grade at it's steepest point. Fun.

On my ride, I came across another bicyclist who was riding with full paniers, headed to the Hilly Hundred. I gave him some directions and then went continued my ride. About an hour later, while driving to Edgewood Schools (our home base for the Hilly), I ran into the same cyclist. It was nice to know that my directions didn't get him lost!

Tomorrow's ride will include 48 miles, 5000 cyclists, Krispy Kreme donuts, apple cider, and did I mention hills? Saturday's ride has 3321 feet of vertical gain. Most of the major hills have names; ones on signs, and ones that cyclists use when climbing up them. The 3 Sisters along with Niece #1 and Niece #2 -- tomorrow you're mine.

Sunday's ride is similar, with about 50 miles of hilly southern Indiana beauty.

Outbiked by a 71-year-old

nospam@example.com (Tim Dearborn) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:33:39 -0600

We inherit many things from our parents, most of which we receive long before the deathbed. I have been blessed by receiving an inheritance of many crucial principles from my own parents, such as the priority of family and the importance of helping others.

Recently another legacy came to mind as I was bicycling at 7 mph behind my step-dad, who just turned 71. I have inherited a legacy of activity and energy by all three sides of my family. My father consistently works out at a fitness center; Colleen's folks regularly hike.

My mom and step-dad recently spent two weeks in Door County, WI. I visited them over 2 different weekends during their stay and bicycled all over the county, including Washington Island. My total mileage for the two weekends was 166 miles. As for my 71 year old step-dad? He biked 186 miles during that 2 week period. I have now been out-biked by a 71-year-old.

Celebrating America's Bithday By Bike

nospam@example.com (Tim Dearborn) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:31:36 -0600

After complaining about a previous organized bike ride, I though I ought to highlight a good one. I celebrated the 4th of July by enjoying some of America's back roads. The Joliet Bicycle Club had an organized ride on July 4th, which I partook of. It was an excellent bike ride in many ways, some of which the organized planned and some of which they had no control over. The below are some ingredients that go into making a perfect bike ride...

There were rest stops every 15 miles or so. The lack of this was my big complaint about a previous organized ride I did.
The food was good. Sweet, juicy cantaloupe, seedless watermelon, bananas, and mediocre hot dogs (which taste really good after a long ride) made up the fare.
The routes were well planned with little traffic. They were well marked. (On the aforementioned previous ride, I missed route markings twice.)
Many miles of the roads we traveled had been re-paved within the last year.
The ride was well attended by about 600 cyclists. This is helpful when you go to a ride solo like I do, as you have a better chance to hook up with and draft a group going about your speed. I did this extensively, and it made the ride more enjoyable and less painful -- especially when doing a long stretch into a 10-15 mph headwind.
The weather was perfect. It was about 60 when I started and around 80 when I finished with clear blue skies.

KR Bike Ride - Nice But No Rest Stops!

nospam@example.com (Tim Dearborn) — Sat, 17 May 2008 18:03:49 -0600

KR Ride - Burlington, WI

I just got back from the Kenosha Racine Bike Club Annual Ride. The scenery was beautiful, the weather was mostly sunny, and the wind was ... well ... what would a bike ride be without a little wind? I enjoyed 2 lazy loops for a total of 47 miles. It was a nice ride, with the exception of one glaring problem: there were no rest stops!

A little background may be in order. I have been riding organized day rides for 20 years. All of those rides without exception (until now) have had rest stops with food every 15 - 20 miles. It becomes an accepted, unspoken rule. As a result you don't have to carry extra food. You get a break every hour or so. Your novice riders get a break every 1 1/2 hours.

The bike ride I did today did have 1 rest stop which was the place where you registered and started the bike ride. There were three loops that came back to the starting place. The shortest of these was 29 miles. For a bike ride that caters to average bicyclists and families, that is unconscionable. I had a new rider with me that asked when he found out there were no rest stops, "What did I pay the $30 registration fee for?" I had no answer.

Updated: please read a good response from the ride organizer by clicking the "Continue Reading" link below.

Continue reading "KR Bike Ride - Nice But No Rest Stops!"

Bicycle Overhaul

nospam@example.com (Tim Dearborn) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:07:35 -0700

Just like vehicles often need 30,000 mile servicing and airplanes require a 10,000 hour engine overhaul, bicycles also need servicing. After 10,000+ miles and 4 seasons, I gave my Trek a major overhaul over the weekend. This involved repacking the wheel bearing in the hubs of both wheels. I also replaced the chain, freewheel cassette (the 9 gears on the rear wheel), and middle gear of the triple chainring in front. Since I was at it, I also replaced the brake cables and housing, as well as both derailleur cables and housing.

Most of the work went without hitch, as I had quite a lot of it done by Performance Bicycle Shop. Unfortunately, however, I purchased the wrong freewheel earlier; I got one with a 34-tooth gear and my rear derailleur only will handle a 27-tooth gear maximum. I had to replace it with a fairly standard 12-26 tooth cogset. Oh well, guess I won't be able to climb up any walls - just mountain passes.

Below is a table of my gears, as they are currently. The gears are expressed in gear inches, which can be found by the below formula. Also below is a list of select gears and the speed that those gears would produce at an average of 95 rpm. (I usually try to pedal between 90-100 rpm).

Gear Inches = teeth of the front gear / teeth of back gear X diameter of wheel in inches

3,000 miles in 2007

nospam@example.com (Tim Dearborn) — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 11:06:10 -0700

I rode 3,000 miles on my bicycle in 2007 -- approximately 200 hours in the saddle. 908 miles of this was inside. I rode my bike on 164 different days. I missed the elusive (and never yet accomplished) goal of riding at least 100 miles each month; November only had 83 miles. Highlights included a two-day solo trip from Atkinson, IL to Channahon, IL and riding 107 miles on one day.

This was the third highest total for a year, and the most miles I have ever ridden in a non-cross-country year. Total miles ridden over the last 24 years now stands at 33,394.

2007 Hilly Hundred

nospam@example.com (Tim Dearborn) — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 21:40:28 -0600

Once again, for the fourth time in five years, I made a mid-October trek down to southern Indiana for the Hilly Hundred. The weekend consisted of two days of bicycle riding through beautiful State Forest and rural areas outside of Bloomington, IN, with 5000 other like-minded cyclists. The weather was perfect, though a bit nippy on Saturday with a heavy ~~frost~~ sheet of ice on the car in the morning as I climbed out of my tent. And the hills... well lets just say that you know you are in trouble when there are 14 hills that have specific names. The longest was 2 miles and the sharpest had more than a 20 percent grade.

Apple Cider, Biking, and 10,000 Miles

nospam@example.com (Tim Dearborn) — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 18:47:06 -0600

Perfect temperatures, sunny skies, leaves that are just starting to change colors, a bike, and 8,000 friends -- what could be better? I just spent the day biking in the southwestern corner of Michigan in what is billed as the largest century in the Midwest. The Apple Cider Century lived up to its name; I think I consumed about a half gallon of cider while biking 77 miles. The terrain was flat to rolling. It was moderately windy, though corn fields and trees often tempered its effects. We also had some beautiful views of Lake Michigan.

Another highlight of the event was watching my odometer turn 10,000 miles toward the end of the trip -- not too shabby for a bike that I have only had 3 1/2 years.